"Lieu- lieutenant?!!??" panted a soldier with sweats and a face of worry and in a hurry, he ran inside Watchers-keep.
"Catch your breathe Lufeng, what's the rush? where's the rest?" said Hemi, tending to the tired out Lufeng, "someone give me a bottle." she said.
"Ambushed ... in the forest, black uniforms.., Sloan" said Lufeng, drinking the water, "We need to hurry Sergeant Ruckus and the rest are holding them off."
"Call the Lieutenant!!" shouted Hemi.
"What's the ruckus?" an usually cheerful Azuri opened up her office window, incomprehensibly happy as judged by her soldiers in her command.
"Ma'am, Ruckus and the crew were ambushed in the pathway" reported Hemi, from the lower ground.
A sudden stop, Azuri's mood changes to the stern cold beauty she usually was, "Sloan?"
"Yes!".
" Lufeng, you did great" said Azuri, walking inside she gave a simple nod to Bartholomew and Wadu, who were in a middle of a chat in her office.
Due to the emergency in hand, Immediately they left for the pathway, Wadu, Bartholomew, Al and a group of 124 soldiers including Hothor and Lufeng. Hemi and the others were left in charge of Watchers-keep.
"Okay Kumar" Hemi handed a pamphlet to a messenger who was standing ready.
"This is an urgent report, to all the towns, go now Pronto!" she ordered.
The messengers like Pay have fast moving abilities, hence the requirements for being one, on average they took only 20 minutes from Watchers-keep to Guards-hold. Which usually took 2 days at most, even in horse-carts.
Kumar the messenger summoned dusts from the ground forming a cloud-he stood a top, with speed unfathomably fast for a batch of sand, the boy slid to his cause, an urgent request to all.
In a mere 5 minutes, he reached the sign which read Dara and Lala veng, where he met Pay, Kumar without a word handed him some pamphlets and simply nodded,
"I'll take Guards-hold" said Pay.
Immediately the two zoomed through the highway road - partially made of stones. While one ran fast, the other slid in dusts, almost even in their top speed.
"Me and Al will fly over there" said Wadu, who immediately burts upwards with his wind and Al with his hot blazing fire,
"Can you keep up kid?"
"I maybe faster old man." serious yet still with a sense of humour.
Lieutenant Azuri and the rests followed suit.
On the forest near the pathway, just after Lufeng was asked to call for reinforcements.
Ruckus and the other -three- soldiers did an incredible job at holding the Sloan's -black- soldiers - down.
Ruckus, a rock ripper like Genges, bald, fairly tall and with a goatee, fought the Sloans in the pathway, although their mission was to seal the opened pathway, the soldiers were ambushed before they could close the gap.
The Sloan soldiers - the blacks- were too - in a state of hurry , for if they let the Fuu'ue villagers escaped a worse case scenario would befall Sloan in the coming Au'khawm.
Ruckus and the three soldiers with ripper powers of snow, water and a strange one which turned whatever he touched into jelly, fought their best without regards for their life. The hordes and the tenacity of the -blacks- seemed endless, one by one they hailed and grew their numbers from the narrow pathway. Ruckus fought valiantly with rock spikes he turned the ground into a barren rocky land. Skewering some blacks, the rest of them too did a number on them, some blacks were frozen and their blood froze from inside due to the massive snow of cold - masterfully controlled so as not to harm his allies, bubbles of water on enemies heads leave them breathless and drowning on land, some turned into jelly losing all motor skills and some stuck inside a bouncy - ground - jelly - like -quicksand.
However, much to the blues dismay the blacks seemed to grew in numbers the more they befell-ed, but on they did fight, "No retreat!" yelled Ruckus, "We are Lieutenant Azuri's five novas. Come get some!!".
"Hell yeah! I ain't even break a sweat yet"
"Jelly,jelly, jelly, you all!"
"My waters are still bursting" said the others.
"Very brave but your pity lives end here!" said a menacing looking -Black-.
"Black meteors!" he said, his palms high up in the air.
"Big bear trap" said another black, who summoned a big literal bear trap, made of steel or so it seemed on the ground.
Quick to react the jelly ripper Blue used his power, his magic to soften the sharp tooth like trap in an instant, which the trap proceeds to simply smother them in jelly cushions, which in turn leaves the Black with the bear trap power to grin and grind his teeth in frustration while the Blues laughed at him.
But in spite of their joyful comedy, the Blues realized their grimm situation, Blacks surrounded the four Blues and the one with his palm in the air - directly above summoned meteors -which in pure eyes view - judged, seemed to fall faster than usual - making their situation more abysmal.
Seeing the sudden meteors the Lieutenant and her hastily organized squad, sprinted in a rush to the site of the action, some on horses some used their powers and all prepared for a showdown.
Wadu who was high up the air, "I see snow from there" pointing at the direction of the fight - Al saw the meteors falling and said, "What's that?".
"It's a meteor" Judging by the trajectory, Wadu deduced that it was a power of a ripper.
"Kid, how about we blow those up" he proposes an adrenaline rushing action. To which Al excitedly agreed.
In the other side , the peaceful central town of Guards-hold. Pay arrived in Mustang's office, "Colonel here... an emergency" he handed the pamphlet.
Mustang on reading the news, cracked a little smile, his eyes turned mean and his scar seemed to twitch.
Pay asked, "Colonel Sir?"
Mustang reformed himself and answered, "Yes Pay?"
"Uhh... has my sister returned?".
"They're on the North"
"North? oh.. thank you sir.. I'll be off then" with that Pay immediately ran off towards the north of Guards-hold.
'This time I'll erase you' thought Mustang-his palm formed a fist shaking - itching like Mustang was holding back -his- beast.
On the north, Pay ran, fast was his speed, he saw a new house - a castle with a tree mixed in. He saw the large Fun Inc. written above the door, "ahah!" and he knock, besides the door he saw a couple of dried up bandits tied together-so lifeless they seemed to the point that Pay thought they were dried in the sun, which later were to be fed to the fishes or beasts around the place - which doesn't ease him off, to add to his vain sense of criminal treatment or pity he realized what Lu did to the people who attacked the caravans and further, his gruesome fight with Ratan.
The -knocked on- door was opened Lu popped out his head, Pay in the middle of thinking about him and his bloody fighting tendency - was scared half to death when he saw Lu's face, "PAY!!" exclaimed Lu.
"Come into my house little man"
"Wow!" said Pay, the awesome captivating sights ceased his little fears.
"Pupu Elone??" Pay slightly loud and glad to see Elone, ran up to him - fast, the other no time for a reaction - was met with a hard hug.
"Pay my boy!!... How are you? Grandpa's missed you" with a smile and some crackling laughter in between Elone embraced his godson.
"Pay?... Pay Look at our new home" with a smile Lucy span around.
Pay smiled, "what about the other one?"
"We'll sell it..right?" Lucy looking at Elone, with a smile of courtesy.
"Pay... Lulu don't appreciate ol'Gramps hard work" said Elone, comedically sulking. Leaving Lucy dumbfounded and with mass regrets.
"Hahahah.. I'm just kidding, kiddos, stop looking like that" Elone laughed, imitating Lucy's face.
"Who made this anyways?"
"Post" answered Lucy.
"Are they here?"
"You know each other?"
"Yup!" answered Pay.
"Hmmm... you're of the same age anyways" said Lucy and she added, "Anyways this is Fun inc. we'll be living here now"
"Ohh! So I'm part of the guild too?"
"Absolutely" answered Lu. On seeing Lu, Pay remembered the thing he wanted to say, "Oh right!" he said, "Guys.... so first we need to make the guild.. ".
" Fun inc." Lu corrected Pay.
"Oh! Fun inc. have a..." said Pay
"Guild is so boring to say" yet again Lu interrupted Pay, "Would you just shush!" bickered Lucy, "Go ahead Pay".
" I was just talking about... " Lu stopped in his tracks - Lucy covered his mouth. Lu licked Lucy's hand wild and fierce, Lucy with a blush, bore through Lu's intense playful tease.
"*sigh* So Fun inc. need to have a good name right?" with a sigh Pay finally spoke out.
"There's currently a skirmish?.. is it skirmish?" he looked around and Elone nodded and he continued, "there's a skirmish right now near Watchers-keep. . Maybe we can help out"
"Skirmish with Sloan?" asked Lucy.
"So let's go!!!" Lu excitedly sprang up.
"How?" asked Lucy.
"Whachyu mean how? I'll be there in a jiffy"
"Look you can run or move fast or whatever but.... Apu Elone isn't it right?.. when people moves fast unlike pay they lost their control?" Lucy with a lengthy one. Elone nodded.
"See? who knows what or who you'll run into" Lucy lessoned Lu, the other skeptical but complied, since he was bickered on many times by his peers.
"Ooh!! I have an idea... everyone.. call Post and Huncho... Outside.. outside" excitedly Pay ran out after saying what he has in mind.
The group stood outside, Pay greets everyone - and with Huncho and Post they have a lengthy conversation, the others hasn't a clue to what they said.
A while past and the three popped -turned to the rest with a look that holds an awesome plan.
"So what's the plan then?" asked Szlick, who looked like he had just been robbed of his beauty sleep.
"A while ago, me, Post and Pay made a means of flying transportation" said Post. Which caught the peaked the eye of Elone, "Let's hear it" he said.
"Master Elone, remember the catapult thing?" asked Huncho,
Elone nods.
"Post will make a biiig one" Huncho emphasize the 'big' with arms wide open.
"And we'll add the Atlas with the trajectory and compass"
"ooh! I'm impressed" Elone voiced an approval.
"And since big bro Lu is the null-man" continued Huncho.
Lu heavily approved when Huncho said 'big bro' with tears, Sako too with a nod, always on her master's -wants- and good side. "So it's a go?" asked Huncho.
"Sounds like a plan" said Szlick, Lu and him were excited, an experienced they hope they won't miss.
"One giant catapult coming right up" said Pay.
In the skirmish, the western parts of Halhazar. The small meteors in total was four, the Blues in the skirmish - Ruckus and the other three found themselves in a tight spot. Like hounds ready to strike the Blacks with laughter of confidence - from the meteors and their numbers, took their time not because their not in a hurry but instead their opponents however small were not pushovers. Theirs and the one Black who summoned the meteors smiles was short lived however, Wadu and Al brought up a fierce and huge firestorm - a combination of both magical ripper powers that lit up the sky in yellowish red. The sheer force of the fire and the wind completely consumed the meteors, the rocks and the frictional fires of the meteors were completely burnt to dusts. A sight which yield results of mix emotions, the Blacks on guard and the Blues on relief - reinforcements were -next door they thought
The time the Blacks spent gazing at the sky, Ruckus and the three combined their powers for a beautiful escape scenario - First the water ripper continuously filled the zone of the four with a faint puddle, then snow coming from the other ripper's hands freezes the water - making ice, all the while in the process, Ruckus slowly shaped the ground so they can back away - then in a spit they slide towards a side of the circle of Blacks, the force they generated was enough to speed away from the scene, the Blacks that blocked their exit stood in the way, "Joe! you're up" yelled Ruckus. Joe the jelly ripper changed Ruckus's rock platform into jelly and the group bounced away from the Blacks.
Immediately the Blacks followed suit but on the sides Lieutenant Azuri and the rest finally arrived.
"Lieutenant!" they shouted in relief.
"Ha-ha you better be alright knuckle heads, you aren't my Novas for nothing" said Azuri with a smile of relief for her safe comrades.
Wadu and Al too, descended near the Lieutenant.
It was a stand off, in numbers however, the Blacks of Sloans still outnumbered the Blues.
"Trespassing is a crime! Sloans" with a resounding voice Azuri stared dead at their faces.
"Ohohoo a cutie captain" said the bear trap ripper.
"Look we're expecting our general here you know, we outnumber you, plus General Gagadoh is on the way with another squadron... hahaha, look cutie just give up the Fuu'ue villagers and we'll be off" said the ripper who summoned the meteors.
"Fuck off horsetail" said Al, referring to the ripper's ponytail.
"You and... " looking at Wadu, the ripper wasn't in a state of bliss after his precious meteors were destroyed.
"Enough! Fuck your General, Fuck numbers, Knights of Arrienne!!!Positions." a battle cry for the start from Bartholomew the elder prince, his curses seemed unnatural for himself as thought by Hothor and Azuri, to Bartholomew however, Lu was on his mind - he holds to a point a sizeable respect for the latter.
Suddenly, "What's this about fucking me? Weak Prince!" a voice came forth, so menacing and deep, from the shadows of many Blacks came a man with rugged face, one-eyed blind and fearless he seemed.
"General Grey!" exclaimed Wadu.
A click of the tongue "Tch" by Al.
"Uncle you know him?" asked Azuri.
"I'll take him on, he's very powerful, among the ranks of Sir Mustang" replied Wadu with a face more serious than usual, he harboured worry and a slight doubt in victory - .
"He's very dangerous Miss, he controls Metals" Al looking hot yet on guard.
"Don't fret men! If we die, take as many as you can with you" said Azuri, her men - the rest, outnumbered and outgunned yet the Blues showed no fear, a sight of pure dedication and bravery.
"Hoo! What's bravery if you lack the power, hear me now Lieutenant, give me the villagers and I'll let you keep your pathetic lives for a bit longer" said the General, standing now in the front - confident, hands behind the back.
"How about you leave?" said Bartholomew.
"Who'd surrender a winning battle, Weak Prince"
"Last chance Arienne" said the general.
"We'll die before we comply" said Azuri, the men, all of them in a stance, battle stations - in the ready.
"So it seems! Lord of Black's Knights..Annihilate all" a final command before the battle from the general.
Just before the slight movement or the shouts that ignites the charge in a battle -from both the Blues and Blacks.
A shout of joy - of excitement and thrill echoed from the sky.
A slight dot in the sky which quickly headed straight for -in between the groups stand off.
THREE MINUTES earlier, in the lake, the island of Fun Inc.
"Here it is guys" signed Post translated by Pay.
"Pay you can do their signs?" asked Lucy.
"Yup!"
"Alright let's go.. let's go.. let's goo~~" with a slight hymn Szlick wanted the fun to begin.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" asked Sako.
"I don't see why not... I'll move before I land then boom I'm unstoppable and invincible" an answer of pure heartthrob honesty with an action dance.
"Enough talk do it!!!" Lu excitedly, he was already on the catapult.
The catapult was big in size - in comparison almost the size of a sleeping Genges-the giant.
"Wait this looks like a normal giant catapult" Lucy voiced her concerns but Elone checked the blueprint by Huncho and said, "The math and design checks out,.... Don't worry Lucy this has gears of my making and these orbs will help boost the trigger speed".
" And how long will they take?" Lucy with another question.
"From here to there..... about two or so minutes?"
"Bahh!! Fuck the maths Lucy 2+2 is 5...let's go" said Lu, with eyes of a child in excitement.
'He called me Lucy' she thought.
Everyone present who heard Lu's math, simply complied with a smile of slight nervous reaction, their smiles were saying 'he is so wrong'.
Szlick and Lu sat at the back - a pouch like thing in the catapult which if it was normal, rocks would replace the two.
"Master I'll look after this place" Sako with the act of a bride sending her husband away on a trip.
"I'll be back babe, stay cute for me okay?" Lu's fingers running down Sako's smooth cheeks, with crossed hands on her chests Sako bids farewell for now.
Lucy watched from afar still out in her thought 'He called me Lucy' her mind repeated itself, not even hearing Lu's cry for her name, "I don't understand her" Lu said to Szlick, the latter simply laughed, "You're just way lucky then you should be shorty".
Post signed at the duo, " Kick their ass!" translated Huncho and he continued looking at Post who was at the frontal part of the catapult with the Atlas advance map featuring the compass "Everything's set!?" he said and signed, a thumbs up from Post signaled a go, "WE HAVE LIFT OFF" yelled Pay.
"wooooo" shouted the duo, the speed was fast, faster than the fight from Ratan and Lu or so Sako assumed. The catapult used many orbs of force made by Elone himself, enough to propel the two into extreme speed by even a wooden catapult.
And now the scene of a dot in the sky, where Blues and Blacks stood ready for battle.